Five Arizona-based solar energy companies are joining forces to establish a nonprofit group to advocate for solar users and educate the community on the importance of continued investment in solar technologies.

Known as the Arizona Solar Deployment Alliance (ASDA), the newly formed organization is dedicated to providing accurate and timely information to the public and working on behalf of Arizona homeowners and businesses on issues related to the advancement of solar energy.

ASDA was formed by American Solar, Arizona Solar Concepts, Harmon Solar, Sun Valley Solar Solutions and Technicians for Sustainability, all Arizona-based companies who committed early-on to work with homeowners and businesses to make rooftop solar energy a reality in the State of Arizona. Incorporated as an Arizona non-profit, ASDA will provide up-to-date, reliable data to inform and educate solar users and solar interests on important issues related to the industry and changes in public policy.

Groups that claim to be pro-consumer are popping up statewide as the issue of solar energy becomes a more popular topic. These efforts, however, are only making it more difficult for the public to decipher fact from fiction when it comes to solar energy.

“The cost of solar energy is at an all-time low. Homeowners and businesses can easily make the choice to go solar and it is especially critical they have facts and solid information – not noise or conjecture – before making such a decision and as they continue to use solar into the future.” said Sean Seitz, president of ASDA. “We believe solar is here to stay. It is a low-cost, long term solution to our state’s growing power needs and is quickly becoming part of Arizona’s diverse energy portfolio, alongside wind, hydro, nuclear, gas and coal. Our mission is to support an educated decision-making process and that means ensuring those making the decision are not swayed by the landslide of misinformation and distraction that is out there.”

Arizona’s solar industry is also critical to the state’s economic development prospects, as it provides jobs in the fields of engineering, manufacturing, construction and a variety of other related skill sets, many of which pay well and provide a good standard of living for families. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Careers in Solar Power, 2011)

Posted on the Phoenix Business Journal Blog by Patrick O’Grady (Managing Editor) – on August 14 2013 at 6:40am MST

A new group of solar companies has formed to take a more active role in advocating for consumers.

The Arizona Solar Deployment Alliance was formed by five Arizona-based solar companies as an answer to what they saw as several groups that were more focused on the industry than the people buying their product, said Sean Seitz, president of American Solar Electric in Scottsdale.

Along with American Solar, others in the group are Harmon Solar, Sun Valley Solar Solutions, Arizona Solar Concepts and Technicians for Sustainability.

Seitz said the group already is involved in several high-profile issues in the state, including the discussions on how solar users are paid by utilities for excess power they produce and whether Arizona deregulates its electric utility industry.

The group plans to be active with the Arizona Legislature and the Arizona Corporation Commission among others, Seitz said.

The group began informally as American Solar was one of the companies fending off a legislative effort several years ago to make nuclear power part of the state’s renewable energy portfolio. Those efforts eventually coalesced this spring as the five companies formed the ASDA.

While there are several industry-related groups existing in Arizona, including the Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association, ASDA sees an opportunity present solar from a different point of view.

“There is incredible potential for industry expansion in sustainable technologies and with that comes exponential job growth,” said Dan King, treasurer of ASDA and chief operating officer of Harmon Solar. “These are good jobs with high salaries, all of which contribute to what we as a state have been trying to create for years: a healthy, diversified economy.”

Several other groups have cropped up recently in an effort to promote solar in the state better as industry insiders believe it is being pushed to the side of Arizona’s energy choices.